Why North Korea’s Support for Russia Has Experts Sounding the Alarm

A new chapter in the war in Ukraine is unfolding — and it involves North Korea in an unprecedented way.

In late April 2025, both North Korea and Russia confirmed that North Korean troops are actively participating in the war against Ukraine. The official figure: over 11,000 soldiers. Many experts view this as a dramatic and destabilizing escalation — not only for Ukraine, but for global security.

According to a new report from the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Taskforce (MSMT), deployments began as early as fall 2024. North Korean troops were flown and shipped to Russia, where they were trained by Russian forces in everything from artillery combat to drone operations and trench warfare.

“We are witnessing a significant and unprecedented military alliance between two heavily sanctioned states,” said an anonymous official from one of the MSMT member states.

Initially spotted in eastern Russia, the North Korean troops were soon moved to front-line positions in the Kursk region, where they engaged Ukrainian forces and suffered heavy casualties. In early 2025, an additional 3,000 troops were deployed to replace the dead and wounded.

Weapons for Soldiers: A Two-Way Deal

At the same time, Russia reportedly provided North Korea with advanced air defense systems and possibly armored vehicles. In return, Russia gained access to North Korean ammunition, ballistic missiles — and now troops. This alliance directly violates multiple UN sanctions.

One particularly striking detail: North Korean soldiers are operating in Russian uniforms. According to MSMT, the deployments began following a Ukrainian incursion into Kursk in August 2024 and are linked to the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and North Korea, signed in June 2024.

That treaty marks a dramatic shift in their bilateral relationship, paving the way for expanded military cooperation. Experts warn that this is not a temporary arrangement, but a long-term strategic project. Russia gets war supplies and manpower; North Korea gains experience in modern warfare and access to technology, data, and resources that could enhance its own weapons programs.

Although the UN Security Council has long banned arms deals and military cooperation with North Korea, those rules appear to be collapsing in practice. The situation is further complicated by Russia’s veto in March 2024 of the UN panel responsible for monitoring sanctions violations — leaving a major gap in global oversight.

Artillery and Rockets by the Millions

According to the MSMT report, North Korea has delivered more than 20,000 containers of ammunition and related materials to Russia since September 2023. These shipments include millions of shells in calibers 82mm, 122mm, 130mm, 152mm, and 170mm — compatible with systems such as the D-20 and D-30 howitzers and M-46 guns.

One MSMT member state estimates that up to 9 million artillery shells and rockets were transferred in 2024 alone — transported on Russia-flagged vessels to eastern ports and then by rail to front-line areas in western Russia.

Ballistic Missiles: From Pyongyang to Kharkiv

Even more alarming are the deliveries of at least 100 ballistic missiles. According to the UN and the UK-based Conflict Armament Research (CAR), North Korea has sent Hwasong-11A and Hwasong-11B missiles to Russia.

In January 2024, one such missile struck the city of Kharkiv. It was later identified by CAR and UN experts as North Korean-made, based on Korean markings and distinctive motor components. Analysts believe the missiles were produced and deployed in rapid succession — strong evidence of an active weapons partnership.

Heavy Weapons and Anti-Tank Systems

In addition to ammunition and missiles, North Korea has supplied 170mm self-propelled artillery, 240mm rocket launchers, and over 200 military vehicles. Deliveries also include Bulsae-4 anti-tank missiles and RPGs, which have been used against Ukrainian forces. Weapons debris recovered in Ukraine confirms their North Korean origin — underscoring that this is no longer symbolic support, but active contribution with powerful weaponry.

What Happens Now?

The UN’s sanctions regime is under immense strain, and the MSMT is urging immediate international action. The report recommends stronger surveillance, identification of key actors, and improved intelligence-sharing.

Without coordinated intervention, experts warn, this alliance could shift the balance of power in Ukraine — and further erode global norms around arms control and sovereign warfare.

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